Solar Powered EV Charging

WIAWSNB

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81473346#Comment_81473346

Just on that low-output-charging point, I recently bought a Granny charger with a variable output of 6, 8, 10 and 13A for just this purpose.

I already had the PV system with a FIT, so no potential for earning any more by exporting, so for me to try and charge via the panels was a no-brainer. (I think I worked out that an average of 2 hours charging per day would maintain the Phev's battery to provide our ~6k pa mileage.

Like you, I realised that often the PV generation wasn't enough to cover the full default 10A rate, so can now tweak it down to, say, 6A when needed.

No idea how much it's saving, but it certainly works, tho' obviously takes much longer to charge.

QrizB

@WIAWSNB wrote:

I already had the PV system with a FIT, so no potential for earning any more by exporting

Keeping your FIT generation payments but switching to metered export will probably earn you more than FIT deemed export. You'll need to do the sums yourself before you can be certain.

I switched back in February and so far on Outgoing Octopus I'm quite a long way ahead of where I would have been on FIT deemed export.

See numbers in this thread.

matt_drummer

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81992092#Comment_81992092

There is something I don't understand about your logic.

If you want to charge the battery in your PHEV to cover all of your annual mileage why didn't you just buy a full EV?

A full EV is more efficient than a PHEV and there are lots of potential problems with the small battery.

It may be that your circumstances have changed but my question might alert others to the flawed concept of a PHEV if you intend to cover most of your miles on electric power only.

WIAWSNB

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81998001#Comment_81998001

I bought the Phev because it was an offer I couldn't refuse - simple as that. I was actually looking for another diesel, but - Phew - pleased I didn't.

Not quite ready for a full EV - we do the odd long trip, as I did last week to pick up some PV batteries; 450mile round trip, all on Hybrid-ICE - 66mpg ave, and over 100 miles still left in the tank. I was very impressed.

For day-to-day running, wife to work, shopping, etc - the 14.1kWh with (in Summer) near-40 mile capacity works perfectly fine. As long as we have sun every few days, we have near-free fuel costs.

Once I fit these batteries, this should make it even more straightforward (if they work).

To answer my 'logic', I have to confess it was by pure chance that I ended up with a Phev - it is no exaggeration to say that I did not even understand the term 'self-charging' before then. But, but by this pure luck, I appear to have ended up with a highly desirable option.